Priorities

For over five years, I have worked as a policy analyst with our state lawmakers to pass legislation that has contributed to significant victories for working families, women and children, and our environment. I am ready to do more on the issues that matter. My priorities include: 

HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS

We must figure out how to make housing more affordable for homeowners and renters so fewer people are on the streets. We need every level of government focused on reducing homelessness, from the state to how the county and city can work better together. 

In the State Senate, I will support local city and county investments in housing and prioritize homeless programs for capital outlay funding.

To reduce homelessness, I support: 

  • Expediting the full opening of the Gateway Center, so it’s operational and serving more people.

  • Funding programs that work directly with landlords to prevent evictions and keep people housed.

  • Investing in proven behavioral health and substance abuse programs.

To increase housing, I support: 

  • Incentivizing other forms of homeownership, such as limited equity co-ops and co-housing, to get young families and seniors into affordable housing.

  • Partnering with local building trades unions to expand apprenticeships programs to increase our construction workforce so more affordable housing gets built.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Everyone deserves to be safe in their homes and community. I support efforts to reduce violent, retail, and property crime and the growing fentanyl crisis in Albuquerque. I will champion common sense gun safety legislation that many of our neighbors agree with — assault weapon bans, waiting periods, stronger red flag laws, and more.

My gun violence prevention priorities include: 

  • An assault weapons ban, like 9 other states have;

  • Raise the age to 21 to buy or possess semi-automatic firearms;

  • Establish and fund a state Office of Gun Violence Prevention to research and collect data to inform evidence-based gun safety strategies;

  • Promote and strengthen gun safety laws already on the books, like the “Red Flag” law, while working with APD, the courts, and Sheriff John Allen so these laws are more widely used;

  • Support strategies to take illegal guns off the street—a major contributor to violent crime.

EDUCATION

We must maintain our commitment to quality public education. We must continue investments in early childhood education, address teacher shortages, and increase teacher salaries to recruit and retain the best talent for our kids. We need to support and encourage career and technical education and apprenticeship options. We must also fully fund community school coordinators.

I will be a strong advocate for our children, students, schools, and educators. 

My education agenda includes:

  • Invest in education at the level it deserves, from early childhood programs to higher education;

  • Increase funding for early childhood care and education services, and implement a wage and career ladder for early childhood providers;

  • Address teacher shortages so that we recruit and retain the best teachers;

  • Support apprenticeship programs and trades in our schools;

  • Support local teachers and increase educator salaries;

  • Expand community schools that combine both traditional school-based educational activities with other wrap-around services (like healthcare, counseling, and other social services).

HEALTHCARE

I support access to quality and affordable healthcare for all New Mexicans, which includes access to the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare, gender-affirming care, and maternal care. New Mexico must also pass a state-level Paid Family and Medical Leave Act. We must also invest in creative and strategic initiatives to support our doctors. 

My healthcare agenda includes:

  • Greater investments in healthcare, including incentives to address doctor and health worker shortages;

  • Expand access to affordable healthcare and lower out-of-pocket costs;

  • Pass a state-level Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFMLA);

  • Address the healthcare needs of seniors and support their caregivers;

  • Expand funding for evidence-based substance abuse treatment programs and behavioral health programs;

  • Provide and protect access to the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare, gender-affirming care, and maternal care.

JOBS AND ECONOMY

We must grow our local economy and support workers. We must continue to invest and grow high-value industries like film, renewable energy, technology, and healthcare while supporting our local small businesses. 

SUSTAINABILITY AND CLEAN ENERGY

It's imperative to safeguard our natural resources, such as clean air, water, and forests, and also conserve our public lands for the benefit of future generations. We must meet the climate crisis head-on and promote the adoption of green technologies as quickly as possible.